In part two of Baits we will be discussing Crabs, Worms, Eels and Sand Fleas all of these are essential saltwater baits that the fly tyer/angler must understand and contend with during certain times of the year. Remember in the saltwater everything is basically a prey and predator relationship and oftentimes a creature is both.

The cold clear water of the Shenandoah Valley's Dry River enveloped my waders from the knees down as I eyed the riffle upstream of my position. There was no hatch or surface activity visible, but on this brook trout stream the lie I was after looked to be a good bet. The little 3 weight glass rod flexed well into the cork as I put 20 feet of double-taper line in the air, then dropped the little #16 Elk-Hair Caddis within inches of my target.

We were in the middle of a heat wave so I loaded the canoe and everything else the night before and went out early in the morning. I wanted to beat the heat. I had a 3 and a 5 weight rod with me. Both were eight feet long. I get everything into the canoe and the canoe down near the shore. It was 5:45 am. I couldn't see well enough to tie any flies on but had a Goldie Jr and a black fur tailed mohair leech on the two rods. Those are always good flies to start with.

First things first; Pale Morning Dun (Ephemerella excrucians & Dorothea Infrequens) are not peculiar in our area but an anticipated hatch that presents joyful actions to both trout and anglers in many area waters. The most famous and notable actions are during the period from late June to early July on Livingston's spring creeks (Armstrong's, DePuy's, and Nelson's).

I found this pattern on another forum and decided to try it, as it had worked for many other folks. I have seen it tied many different ways and in various colors.

Sometime in the summer of 1971 a friend told us that he had recently purchased a lot within walking distance of the Shenandoah River and encouraged us to check it out. The land was located in Warren County just above the Town of Front Royal, Virginia and, at the outset, was being marketed as primitive camping. We traveled to inspect it from our home in Prince William County, just north of the Quantico Marine Base, not far off Interstate 95.

I spent some time trying to decide on a title for this article. Should I call it Growing Old, Aging Gracefully, Over the Hill or should I be more diplomatic. I chose the latter.

This volume on wet fly fishing is very informative and provides a detailed history of the development of wet fly fishing and most particularly the Scottish and North-Country schools and the leading anglers.